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TROY, Ala. – Troy's Hunter Williams scored 21 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and hit seven 3-pointers to give the Trojans a 79-74 win over the University of South Alabama men's basketball team Thursday night at Trojan Arena.

Troy snaps their five-game losing streak to improve to 8-14 overall and 3-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama drops to 7-16, 1-9.

Williams scored 14 of the team's first 18 points of the second half—12 on 3-pointers—and added six rebounds and four assists.

"We did a great job on Williams in the first half," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "The problem is we have to sustain it for 40 minutes—it's a 40-minute game—and we've had different issues like this during the season where we've not been able to put together a complete game. A shooter like Williams, all it takes is one to go in. We didn't switch a ball-screen and he got a '3,' we didn't trail a stagger (screen) and he got a '3,' and the two that he got that were ridiculous, those are the ones that go in because he's feeling comfortable.

"Unfortunately a good offensive effort was wasted again tonight because we didn't dig down and guard."

The Jaguars took advantage of the Trojans' inability to convert at the free-throw line and used a 9-3 run to cut a 12-point deficit down to 78-74 with 22.7 seconds left, but missed an open 3-pointer on its next possession and would get no closer.

"When you get hit in the mouth with a punch, you have to get back off the deck and go back at them or you can stand there and keep getting punched," Graves said. "Unfortunately, too many times we get punched and you run out of time. They were giving us opportunities down the stretch with missed free throws, but by that time you've really put yourself in a bind."

The Jaguars received 25 points from senior Augustine Rubit (Houston, Texas), his most since setting a new career high with 35 points Dec. 14 against Gonzaga. Sophomore Barrington Stevens III (Allen, Texas) and freshman Ken Williams (Manvel, Texas) added 13 each, with Stevens setting a new career high with six assists.

South Alabama totaled 10 triples as a team—three from Williams—and junior Mychal Ammons (Vicksburg, Miss.) pulled down eight rebounds.

"We had 16 assists on 28 field goals, we had guys sharing the ball, getting to spots—our spacing was outstanding," Graves noted. "Even on that last play, Barrington drove and jump-stopped and kicked it out to (Ken) for a wide-open '3' and the shot didn't go in—that happens sometimes. Three weeks ago, we would've shot some crazy floater or threw it out of bounds, so we're making strides in that area."

Hunter Williams' fourth 3-pointer of the second half started a 9-0 run that saw the Trojans score on four straight trips down the floor. The lead stretched to 12 on three different occasions, the final two times on triples from Williams and Jeff Mullahey.

The Jaguars went almost five minutes without a field goal in the late stages of the first half to allow the Trojans to go on a 9-1 run and take a 30-29 lead. Ammons finally snapped the drought with a dunk to give USA a 31-30 advantage at intermission.

Troy's Kevin Thomas did most of his damage in the first half, tallying 11 of his 15 points before the break, and Mullahey added 13. Josh Warren grabbed 10 boards.

The Jaguars take a week off before hosting Arkansas State Feb. 13 at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: Rubit moved into a tie for 16th in Sun Belt history with Middle Tennessee's Desmond Yates with 1,775 points… It is Rubit's seventh 20-point outing of the season and the 92nd double-digit scoring game of his career, tying him with Ed Rains for second in school history… The loss snaps USA's five-game win streak against Troy; it was the Jags' longest active streak against a conference school… Senior Antoine Allen (Baltimore, Md.), who was averaging 17 points in his previous three games, was held to eight points with seven of those coming in the last 3:22 of the contest… Freshman Georgi Boyanov (Lovech, Bulgaria) had seven rebounds—one shy of his career high—and four points before fouling out… The Jags have not blocked a shot in the last two games… Stevens is averaging 10.3 points and 4.8 assists in his last four outings while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 8-for-8 from the charity stripe… His six assists tonight are the most by a USA player this season… Seven of the eight Jaguars that saw game action made a 3-pointer.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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